Austin film director Richard Linklater discusses his film “Boyhood” (Credit: LBJ Library via Flickr CC)
For 10 days, SXSW is the epicenter of entertainment, making it the perfect place for filmmakers to unveil their cinematic masterpieces. While many come from all over the world to do so, homegrown Austin film directors don’t have to go far to take advantage of the festival’s opportunities each year.
Here are five local directors who have premiered films during SXSW over the years. You’ll recognize some of the names, but hopefully you’ll also uncover a new favorite to follow.
1/ Bob Byington
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Slacker comedy “7 Chinese Brothers” follows the misadventures of Larry (Jason Schwartzman) and his pug Arrow, as Larry searches for a new job and general purpose in life. The film premiered at SXSW in March 2015 and was released the following August.
The film was shot in Austin by local director Bob Byington. This writer/director first splashed on the film scene with “RSO [Registered Sex Offender]” in 2008, followed by “Harmony and Me” in 2009. Byington also premiered his film “Somebody Up There Likes Me” at SXSW in 2012. Although Byington grew up in Nebraska, he moved to Austin in the early 1990s and solidified his place in the city’s now flourishing film scene.
2/ Kat Candler
Local filmmaker Kat Candler has called Austin home since 1997 (Credit: Moody College of Communication via Flickr CC)
Austin film director Kat Candler may have been born in Atlanta and raised in Florida, but she has called Austin home for over two decades. She’s best known for “Hellion,” which tells the struggle of a father trying to raise his young sons after the death of his wife. Candler screened a short of “Hellion” at SXSW 2012, before premiering an extended cut at Sundance Film Festival in 2014.
Candler has since worked on OWN’s popular series “Queen Sugar” and Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why.” The accomplished director has also been invited to lecture at The University of Texas’ Moody School of Communication.
3/Andrew Garrison
Andrew Garrison (left) with fellow director Ryan Fleck at an American Film Showcase event in Hungary
(Credit: American Film Showcase via Flickr CC)
Austin director Andrew Garrison has amassed quite the resume. He currently serves as a professor at The University of Texas in the radio/television/film department and founded the East Austin Stories documentary project, an ongoing collaboration between UT film students and Austin businesses.
In addition, Garrison has directed multiple films that have premiered at SXSW, including “The Wilgus Stories” in 2000, “Third Ward TX” in 2007, and “Trash Dance” in 2012. The latter is a documentary that chronicles the lives of Solid Waste Department employees in Austin.
4/ Richard Linklater
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Writer and director Richard Linklater was born in Houston, but apparently got to Austin as fast as he could. He founded Austin Film Society in 1985 and currently serves as the organization’s artistic director.
Linklater’s many credits include “Slacker” and the cult classic “Dazed and Confused,” which was filmed in Austin. In 2014, he premiered his film “Boyhood” at SXSW and received a standing ovation for the coming of age tale shot over 11 years with the same cast.
5/ Sam Wainwright Douglas
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Sam Wainwright Douglas, director and editor of Big Beard Films, also grew up in Houston. He’s been in the Austin area since 2006. Douglas has premiered many documentaries at SXSW over the years, including “Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio” in 2010, “No No: A Dockumentary” in 2014, and “Through the Repellent Fence” in 2017.
The latter is a story of three artists of indigenous descent who construct an art installation along the Arizona-Mexico border, comprised of 26 giant balloons.
“Through the Repellent Fence” trailer
@dollarsaenz86 wants to know:
Who are your favorite Austin film directors?
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